Lighting fixture



April 26, 1966 w, ETAL 3,248,534

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 30, 1965 United States Patent 3,248,534 LIGHTING FIXTURE William T. Cahill, Painted Post, and Richard B. Walters, Addison, N.Y., assignors to Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,397 7 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to enclosures which may-be used to modify and improve the appearance'of conventional incandescent electric light fixtures.

It is an object of. the invention to provide means for quickly and inexpensively improving the appearance of conventional electric light bulbs and sockets, such as the well-known porcelain fixtures frequently found on walls and ceilings. The present structure is intended to provide, without the necessity for rewiring a fixture, means for modifyingthe appearance thereof to provide substantially any desired design.

' This and otherobjects which will be apparent from the following description are accomplished by the provision of a lighting fixture comprising an adaptor capable of being inserted in a conventional incandescent light bulb socket and including means for supporting an incandescent light bulb, a light-transmitting envelope suspended from the adaptor and surrounding the light bulb and an ornamental structure coveringthe conventional fixture.

' The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial sectional view of a lighting fixture according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the adaptor component of the present lighting fixture,

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the adaptor of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing, the lighting fixture of the present invention comprises adaptor 10, which includes a threaded base portion 11' capable of being inserted into, and effecting electrical connection with, conventional light fixture 12. Opposed to base 11 in adaptor is a socket 13 into which an incandescent light bulb may be inserted. Electrical connections are maintained by means of Wires 40 and 41 between the respective terminals of adaptor base portion 11 and adaptor socket 13, such that when base portion 11 is inserted in fixture 12 and incandescent light bulb 14 is inserted in socket 13, electrical power is transmitted from the fixture to the bulb to illuminate the bulb.

Adaptor lllis provided with arms 15, which are rotatable by meains of tabs 16. Arms 15 support light-transmitting envelope 17 with its rim 22 maintained tightly against the body of adaptor 10.

Fixture 12 is obscured by means of collar 18, which comprises a frustoconical portion joining a cylindrical portion 21 into which adaptor 10 telescopes. Collar 18 is maintained against ceiling 19 by means of springs 20'. Due to the telescoping relationship between adaptor 10 and cylindrical portion 21 of collar 18, the present enclosure is adjustable to conform to variations in the size of fixtures such as 12. For example, if it were desired to enclose a fixture similar to fixture 12 but projecting a smaller distance from ceiling 19, the present enclosure components could be utilized, the only difference being that adaptor 10 would be recessed a greater distance into collar 18.

In assembling the present lighting fixture, first, bulb 14 is inserted in adaptor socket 13. Next, light-transmitting envelope 17 is placed around the bulb With its rim 22 abutting adaptor 10, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and

3,248,534 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 arms 15 are rotated to the illustrated position by means of tabs 16 in order to lock the envelope in place. Next, collar 18 is placed over fixture 12, and adaptor base portion 11 is inserted into fixture 12.

Skirt portions 30 and 21 of adaptor 10 and collar 18, respectively, are in the form of right circular cylinders in order to permit relative rotation therebetween as adaptor base portion 11 is screwed into fixture 12. If fixture 12 is actuated by means other than the illustrated chain 23, thereby permitting convenient rotation of collar 18 as the enclosure is assembled, the skirt portions of the adaptor and collar need not be in the form of circular cylinders, and need be only in the form of cylinders with complementary surfaces. In such case, as adaptor base portion 11 is screwed into fixture 12, both the adaptor and the collar will rotate.

Lighting fixtures according to the present invention may be utilized to modify conventional fixtures of various sizes and shapes in order to produce various ornamental appearances. Such variations can be provided without the necessity for modification of the electrical wiring of the basic fixture and can therefore be effected simply and safely by those unfamiliar with the wiring of electrical fixtures.

The present lighting fixture may utilize light-transmitting envelopes of various configurations, as dictated by environmental considerations, and may be utilized without collar 18.

The above description has been given only as that of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the inventionbe limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination with a fixture mounted on a ceiling for holding an incandescent electric light bulb of an enclosure comprising (1) an adaptor having a base portion removably inserted in a socket of said fixture to effect electrical connection therewith, and a socket portion capable of receiving an incandescent electric light bulb, means for effecting electrical connection between said base portion and said socket portion of said adaptor, said adaptor having a skirt with a generally cylindrical outer surface, (2) between said adaptor and said ceiling a collar, a portion of said collar having a generally cylindrical inner surface complementary with said outer surface of said skirt of said adaptor, said skirt being in telescoping relationship with said inner surface of said collar, said collar being provided with spring means bearing upon said adaptor and maintaining said collartightly against said ceiling, and (3) a light-transmitting envelope supported from said adaptor and providing a space adapted for the inclusion of an electric light bulb inserted in said socket portion of said adaptor.

2. An enclosure according to claim 1 in which said collar has a substantially frustoconical portion adapted to surround said fixture.

3. An enclosure for an incandescent electric light fixture comprising (1) a generally fiat adaptor having a base portion capable of insertion into a socket of an incandescent electric light bulb fixture to effect electrical connection therewith and a socket portion capable of receiving an incandescent electric light bulb, means for effecting electrical connection between said base portion and said socket portion of said adaptor, said adaptor having a skirt with a generally cylindrical outer surface, (2) a collar surrounding said base portion of said adaptor and comprising a generally cylindrical inner surface complementary with said outer surface of said skirt of said adaptor, said skirt of said adaptor being in telescoping relationship with said inner surface of said collar, said collar being provided with spring means bearing upon said adaptor,

and (3) a light-transmitting envelope supported by said adaptor surrounding said socket portion of said adaptor and providing a space adapted for the inclusion of an electric light bulb in said socket portion of said adaptor.

4. The combination with a fixture mounted on a ceiling for holding an incandescent electric light bulb of an enclosure comprising an adaptor having a base portion removably inserted in a socket of said fixture to etfect electrical connection therewith and a socket portion capable of receiving an incandescent electric light bulb, means for effecting electrical connection between said base portion and said socket portion of said adaptor, said adaptor having a skirt with a generally cylindrical outer surface, between said adaptor and said ceiling a collar, 21 portion'of said collar having a generally cylindrical inner surface complementary with said outer surface of said skirt of said adaptor, said skirt being in telescoping relationship with said inner surface of said collar, said :collar being provided with spring means bearingupon said adaptor and maintaining said collar tightly against said ceiling.

5. The combination with a fixture mounted on a ceiling for holding an incandescent electric light bulb of an enclosure comprising (1) an adaptor having a base portion removably inserted in a socket of said fixture to effect electrical connection therewith, and a socket portion capable of receiving an incandescent electric light bulb, means for effecting electrical connection between said base portion and said socket portion of said adaptor, said adaptor having a cylindrical skirt portion, (2) between said adaptor and said ceiling a collar, a portion of said collar being generally cylindrical and complementary with said skirt portion of said adaptor, said skirt portion and said cylindrical collar portion being in telescoping relationship, said collar being provided with spring means bearing upon said adaptor and maintaining said collar tightly against said ceiling, and (3) a light-transmitting envelope supported from said adaptor and providing a space adapted for the inclusion of an electric light bulb inserted in said socket portion of said adaptor.

6. A lighting fixture component comprising an adaptor, a light-transmitting envelope and a collar, said adaptor comprising a base portion capable of insertion into a socket of an electric light fixture to effect electrical connection therewith, a socket portion capable of receiving an electric light bulb to effect electrical connection therewith, and means for transmitting electric power between said base portion and said socket portion of said adaptor,

said adaptor also comprising means for supporting said light-transmitting envelope to enclose adjacent to said socket portion of said adaptor a space suflicient to contain an electric light bulb, said collar and said adaptor having portions joined in telescoping relationship with said collar surrounding said base portion of said adaptor, spring means associated with said collar and said adaptor and located so as to press said collar against a ceiling when said base portion of said adaptor is inserted in a light fixture on said ceiling with said collar in telescoping relationship with said adaptor and between said adaptor and said ceiling.

7. The combination with a fixture for holding an electric light bulb, of an enclosure comprising an adaptor having a base portion removably inserted in a socket of said fixture to effect electrical connection therewith and a socket portion capable of receiving an electric light bulb, means for effecting electrical connection between said base portion and said socket portion of said adaptor, a collar in resilient telescoping relationship with said adaptor and surrounding said base portion of said adaptor and resiliently held against said ceiling by spring means acting between said adaptor and said collar, and a lighttransmitting envelope supported by said adaptor and including therein a space of size sufiicient for the inclusion of an electric light bulb inserted in said socket portion of said adaptor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,974 10/1933 Smally 339167 X 1,256,749 2/1918 Wefel 240-78 1,294,986 2/1919 Wesner 339-167 1,991,058 2/1935 Moss 339167 X 2,673,291 3/1954 Moss 240-78 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,932 11/1951 Germany. 629,731 9/1949 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner. 

7. THE COMBINATION WITH A FIXTURE FOR HOLDING AN ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB, OF AN ENCLOSURE COMPRISING AN ADAPTOR HAVING A BASE PORTION REMOVABLY INSERTED IN A SOCKET OF SAID FIXTURE TO EFFECT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THEREWITH AND A SOCKET PORTION CAPABLE OF RECEIVING AN ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB, MEANS FOR EFFECTING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BASE PORTION AND SAID SOCKET PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR, A COLLAR IN RESILIENT TELESCOPING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID ADAPTOR AND SURROUNDING SAID BASE PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR AND RESILIENTLY HELD AGAINST SAID CEILING BY SPRING MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID ADAPTOR AND SAID COLLAR, AND A LIGHTTRANSMITTING ENVELOPE SUPPORTED BY SAID ADAPTOR AND INCLUDING THEREIN A SPACE OF SIZE SUFFICIENT FOR THE INCLUSION OF AN ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB INSERTED IN SAID SOCKET PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR. 